The Vietnam War 1955 - 1975 Chapter 31. Indochina - Background French Colony WWII leads to...
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Transcript of The Vietnam War 1955 - 1975 Chapter 31. Indochina - Background French Colony WWII leads to...
Indochina - Background French Colony WWII leads to nationalist
movements Ho Chi Minh organizes
Vietminh French reassert control w/ US
support (1946-1954) Dien Bien Phu – May 7, 1954
Indochina - Background Geneva Accords
Divides Vietnam at 17th parallel Provides for elections in 2 years
French pull out Ho Chi Minh controls the
North Ngo Dinh Diem controls the
South
Ngo Dinh Diem Noble Family Roman Catholic Dictatorial Powers Supported by US until 1963 Out of touch with the
Vietnamese People Assassinated in ’63
Early Protests of Diem’s Government
Early Protests of Diem’s Government
Self-immolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-immolation by a Buddhist Monk
US Involvement - Background Anti-communist atmosphere
Events of late 1940s and 1950s
China, Korean War, Soviet atom bomb, McCarthyism, Alger Hiss, etc.
Made alternative vision/solutions difficult
US Involvement - Background
Kennedy YearsTest of US resolve/credibility
Test of “flexible response”
Test of Kennedy’s youth/inexperience
JFK – Increased US Involvement Abandon Ngo or deepen US
involvement? Increased US military advisors from 652 to 16,000
strengthen S. Vietnam army with US technology
pressure Ngo into making necessary reforms.
JFK – Increased US Involvement
Fall of Ngo Dinh Diem Nov.1, 1963, a coup overthrows and kills Ngo
Three weeks later JFK is assassinated.
Tonkin Gulf – Aug. 4, 1964
N. Vietnamese fire on US ships
Tonkin Gulf Resolution 414/0 – House 88/2 – Senate “all necessary measures”
Tokin Gulf Resolution
Not a declaration of war Granted broad military
powers 1965 first US combat troops
arrive 1967 – 500,000 US troops
Challenges US Goal – Get the North to stop
fighting -- War of attrition Highly motivated enemy Guerrilla tactics Unclear enemy Sinking morale
The Ground War 1965-1968The Ground War 1965-1968
No territorial goalsNo territorial goals Body counts on TV every night Body counts on TV every night
(first (first “living room” war“living room” war))
Viet Cong supplies over the Viet Cong supplies over the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail
Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?
VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at night.Farmers by day; guerillas at night. Very patient people willing to Very patient people willing to
accept many casualties.accept many casualties.
The US grosslyThe US grossly underestimated underestimated their resolve and their their resolve and their resourcefulness.resourcefulness.
The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong
If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be end it will be youyou who tires of who tires of it. it.
Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:
U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam
U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
U.S. Troops
Opposition – Protest to Resistance
Pre-existing protest atmosphere
Student led movement Draft resistance Hawks and Doves Silent Majority Kent State – May 4, 1970
Democratic Democratic Convention in Convention in Chicago, 1968Chicago, 1968
Student Student Protestors Protestors
at Univ. of CA at Univ. of CA in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968
Anti-War Demonstrations
Anti-War Demonstrations
Anti-War Demonstrations
Anti-War Demonstrations
May 4, May 4, 19701970
4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.
11 11 students students woundedwounded
Kent State UniversityKent State University
Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity
May 10, 1970May 10, 1970
2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded
Tet Offensive – January 30, 1968
Surprise attack Lasted a month “Lost” Walter Cronkite Greatly shook American
resolve
The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973
Conditions:Conditions:1.1.U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2.North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave
troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3.North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume
warwar4.4.No provision for POWs or No provision for POWs or
MIAsMIAs Last American troops left South Last American troops left South
Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973 1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South
VietnamVietnam Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
The CostsThe Costs
1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed2.2. 58,000 Americans killed; 58,000 Americans killed;
300,000 wounded300,000 wounded3.3. Under-funding of Great Society Under-funding of Great Society
programsprograms4.4. $150 Billion in U.S. spending$150 Billion in U.S. spending5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence, U.S. morale, self-confidence,
trust of government, decimatedtrust of government, decimated
2,583 American 2,583 American POWs / MIAsPOWs / MIAs
still unaccounted for still unaccounted for today.today.
Wars Legacy
“Credibility Gap” War Powers Act
48 hours notice 90 Days
26th Amendment – 18 year olds vote
Lessons for FutureAmerican Presidents
Lessons for FutureAmerican Presidents
1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.2.2. Wars must yield few American Wars must yield few American
casualties.casualties.3.3. Restrict media access to Restrict media access to
battlefields.battlefields.4.4. Develop and maintain Congressional Develop and maintain Congressional
and public support.and public support.5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.6.6. Set deadline for troop withdrawals.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.